Customer Reviews

Arafat: The Biography

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The author did not describe the drama encroaching Lebanon when the heavy exchange of artillery struck horror into the hearts of the unprepared Lebanese people in the areas of Tyre, Sidon and Beirut now congested by hundreds of thousands of refugees uprooted from the South.
PLO presence and activities (whether justified or not) in South Lebanon prompted sever retaliations from Israel to the detriment of all (Christians and Moslems) Lebanese.

At times Arafat's reactions to present events unfairly summoned up the images of historical past occurrences.
For example: In 1982 and in the middle of the raging war between PLO and Israel, Beirut was described `the next Stalingrad' - to emulate the Soviet's army victory over the Germans in 1942 -.

Like a wounded leader amid very tough and challenging circumstances, Arafat transpired prowess born of ignorance.
Arafat was the honest image of a man whose sickness of heart was mixed in reports from the foreign correspondents to show us the picture of a foxy leader mingled in fear, steadfastness and foresightedness.

Arafat's interference in Lebanon's petty politics prompted many Lebanese to emigrate. Outside the foreign consulate buildings people queued for a visa to `security and freedom', some tried to storm the premises, some guaranteed a place in the long line of waiting since mid-night, only to submit their applications to be able to leave.
The pandemonium outside and on the stairs was worse than ever especially during rainy and cold nights.

Perhaps one point of common consolation is, like the Palestinians, also the Lebanese had feeling of humiliation and unjust.
Standing at the doorsteps of foreign embassies to quit one's country was an appalling sight.
It was inhuman.
It was dishonouring.
It was offensive
It was misdemeanour.

Arafat knew how to fight a war, but the irony is that he couldn't learn how to win one.

Arafat! The leader who knew how to move all the power of the palestinian revolution from Tunisia into the heart of palestine!!
Arafat! The only arabic leader who was elected democratically in 1969, 1985 and 1994!!
Arafat! was smart enough in to survive for more than 35 years in the jungle of all the pro-american and anti-palestinian regimes(namely: Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria)!!
Arafat! THE NOBLE PRIZE WINNER !!
The ex-prime israeli minister Goldameir said: "They (the palestinians) do not exist, We (the jewish) are the only palestinians..." !! Arafat told Goldameir: "WE EXIST HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE...." !!
Arafat! The military leader who won against the IDF in the battle of Karama, Beirut and finally in the humiliating defeat and withdrawal of the israeli army from the Gaza!!
Arafat! "OH MOUNTAIN!! THE WIND WILL NEVER SHAKE YOU!!"

This book needs some clerification. I reccomend Harts "Arafat" and Aburishs 'Arafat' above this. This book tries to paint a picture of Arafat as a great legitimate political leader. But this book does not show the whoel picture. It makes Arafat out to be more then a terrorist and does nto weigh the effort that he was a viscious murdered of children(which he was for most of his life). THis book does take into account his many twists and turns but it probably gives Arafat too much credit and is not as interesting as other works on the man.

This book paints far to nice a picture of Arafat.

That any American can be pro-Arafat is mind-boggling. Arafat hates the West just a bit less then he hates Israel.

He has murdered thousands. He is a despicable person and is in no way a legitimate political leader.

Arafat was an evil man.

In his life, what did he achieve?

He killed a lot of Americans and Israelis. His Palestinian people are in lousy shape. While Israel has built up a democracy and world class economy, and have created tens of thousands of jobs for Americans, all the Palestinians can do is create more suicide bombers.

Thus us the legacy of Arafat. A failure and a loser.